Some people may consider Held By Trees to be a ‘supergroup’. Solace, the group’s debut album, featured contributions from no less than eight Talk Talk/Mark Hollis alumni. Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, and Blur veterans also collaborated. Also involved is Eric Bibb, the Grammy-nominated blues singer and songwriter.
Listen to an interview with David Joseph and Laurence Pendrous
Ahead of two special Held By Trees shows (details below), founder member David Joseph and keyboardist Laurence Pendrous and I chatted. We spoke about the group’s formation, the upcoming concerts, their recordings, and much more, and, of course, Talk Talk and Mark Hollis. Please click below to listen.
A few of David Joseph’s memories about Talk Talk and Mark Hollis
David also kindly took the time to provide some personal reflections specifically on Talk Talk and Mark Hollis. Please read on.
When did you become aware of Talk Talk and can you describe how the music impacted you?
I read an article in Q magazine in 2005 about the albums that had inspired Chris Martin regarding the X & Y LP Coldplay released that year. He mentioned Spirit of Eden by Talk Talk, “an album dripping in atmosphere”. This piqued my interest, as I love atmospheric music, so I ordered the CD online. I was fascinated from the first listen and quickly ordered Laughing Stock and Mark Hollis’ 1998 self-titled solo album. Shortly after I picked up The Colour of Spring. I didn’t know anyone who was into these albums, so I felt I had stumbled onto something entirely mine and had a whole world of sound that I had never heard the like of before. Little did I know how much I’d be connected to them later on!
The ‘feel’ of Talk Talk
Can you detect an approach to music common to people you have worked with who wrote and recorded with Talk Talk?
The word I think would be ‘feel’ over anything technical. Mark Hollis and producer Tim Friese-Greene wanted people to improvise on their chord progressions and drums rhythms in order to capture singular moments of playing that were unique to that player. It’s a marvellous way to allow musicians to be themselves while having ultimate control on the final collage that is edited together. This is the exact same approach I use with Held By Trees and the musicians I work with – many of whom are the same people who played on those albums.
Influences
I read elsewhere about being able to trace a link from Miles Davis to Can to Mark Hollis. Can you expand on that please?
Mark Hollis was never one to pretend his music had arrived from the sky, he often cited his influences. If you listen to A Kind of Blue by Miles Davis, or Tago Mago by Can, you can hear the influence on his music. It’s textural and about ambience and atmosphere; not about pristine performances or super hi-fi recordings. He loved to hear the space in the rooms he recorded in; something I’m also very inspired by. You can hear this on great Joni Mitchell or Van Morrison albums too, or on Beth Orton’s latest work. It’s not everyone’s taste, but it’s certainly mine.
Final thoughts
Held By Trees is one of the few bands that can claim living DNA of their chief influences within their sound. Don’t miss your chance to witness their beguiling brilliance.
Live Review
Held By Trees, Chelmsford Social Club, Friday, 26 April
In the live presentation of Held By Trees’ armoury, the beloved frailties of Talk Talk’s permafrost weren’t as present as I’d have expected or hoped.
However, more so, were different kinds of chills entwined like strands, galvonised in the crystal clear waters of Pink Floyd’s Dave Gilmour-isms, which is a good thing by the way. The reputable guitarist Robbie McIntosh, in his well-deserved centre-stage placement, delivered Chromatic themery and beauty in that department.
There is a distracting element to all of this though. For me a soprano sax can be an irritant. A squeaking Marsalis, filling up the spaces of this evening’s particular audio canvas, rippling out a distracting and far too busy presence.
A special mention here for the pianist with exquisite touch and feel, Laurence Pendrous, whose Talk Talk stripes were earned by playing the piano on Mark Hollis’ only solo album.
But the purist moments of the show were the closing two songs, offering a sweet and haunting blend of ‘Spirit of Eden’ and ‘The Colour Of Spring’ with a kind of shimmering feel of War On Drugs. This gig ended, therefore, revealing the essence of late-era Talk Talk up front, then respectfully allowing it to fade off into the sunset, as the band’s rare driving rock elements took hold.
Nonetheless, what Held By Trees do, immaculately, is provide groove subtly, with their inventive musical drummer bringing the pulse up then bringing clouds down, reducing our collective heartbeats to the point that I almost held my breath. Then the ability to build it all back up to a crescendo of magic and fire.
Case in point when guest support artist, rudely talented Callum Ingram, joined the band on stage to jam an improv piece in ‘D’ (incidentally suggested by me shouting out). The band pushed courteously and pulled back carefully, like a scrum of gulls on a sea wind, as their drummer acted as anchor, guide, and decider during this absolutely magnificent improvised, never-to-be repeated piece.
Aaaand breathe.
Head over to Held By Trees’ Bandcamp site to check out the fantastic back catalogue, including the newly released expanded version of Solace.
